FA Cup Saturday, 5th Round: Open Thread

We have five matches on the cards in the 5th Round of the FA Cup today, the tournament that was founded in 1871. Chelsea are at home to Birmingham City in the early kick-off at 7:30am ET/12:30pm GMT, which is followed by three 10am ET/3pm GMT games involving Everton against Blackpool, Norwich versus Leicester, and Milwall against Bolton. Last but not least, the final FA Cup match of the day is at 12:15pm ET/5:15pm GMT, which features Sunderland against Arsenal.

If you live in the United States, all five matches are available live (see schedule here).

The line-up for the Chelsea team is: Cech, Bosingwa, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Meireles, Sturridge, Torres, Mata. The only surprise there is that Ryan Bertrand finally gets the nod instead of Ashley Cole.

As always, before, during or after any of the matches today, share your feedback, rants, raves, observations and questions in the open thread (i.e. comments section below).

About Christopher Harris

Founder and publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris is the managing editor of the site. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who has lived in Florida since 1984, has supported Swansea City since 1979. He's also an expert on soccer in South Florida, and got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.
Harris launched EPL Talk in 2005, which was rebranded as World Soccer Talk in 2013.
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24 Responses to FA Cup Saturday, 5th Round: Open Thread

Looks like Birmingham City is playing some second string players and has a bench filled with youth team players. Birmingham is focusing on a big match in the league on Tuesday, so this should be a walk in the park for Chelsea.

So much for a walk in the park. Birmingham scores a scrappy goal, Chelsea misses a penalty, and the Blues look far from convincing against a Birmingham side who are missing key strikers Nikola Zigic and Marlon King.

This could be an interesting second half to watch. Like watching a car accident happen.

Good question. I believe only the Premier League and Champions League games are shown live on the FOX Soccer 2Go iPhone app. Why? It’s one of two reasons. Either they don’t have the mobile rights to show FA Cup games in the USA, or the iPhone app didn’t include the functionality to show the FA Cup, Championship, etc.

Would have loved to seen Donovan play one last game. Albeit out of control at times, Drenthe is everywhere. Good game for him, should be getting more time, now that Donovan will be gone. If Pienaar and him are in at the same time; talk about some pace come out of the flanks!

FA Cup, Europa, Champions League, internationals, geez, why so many frigging different types of games. I see so many players in the Premier league get injured due to these games. One league at a time. Please.

Such a tough question. On one hand, it’s clear that there are big changes needed at Arsenal. On the other, I think these changes are more than simply just replacing the manager. Wages need to be restructured. Club goals need to be reassessed. Did the plan of being overly frugal during the Emirates repayment really pay off? The club was still easily in the green profit-wise! You have to wonder what exactly the Board’s goals are with their actions over the last few years. It’s a game plan for mediocrity when it’s all said and done, and while Wenger may very well need to go, it’s simply impossible for me personally to turn on the one man who singlehandedly revolutionized the modern game. That said, it may be time for a changing of the guard. Interesting times ahead for the Gunners. This one today really hurt.

Give him another quality striker over the summer, if they aren’t improved by the next January window send him packing. That said, if they finish out of the top 4 (finishing out of the top 5 is just a realistic really) I don’t see how you can keep him.

Arsenal has had a number of “flat” games this season. Pass, pass, pass, then nothing, no wing play, no cutting edge, everybody but RVP afraid to shoot. O-C has countered that to an extent, but he was pretty invisible today. Gervinho also has had moments, but few today. Walcott? Did he play even? (Yes, I know he did, but to what effect?) Sunderland, to their credit, was able to force the action at key points and take advantage. A tough, scrappy win for them, and revenge for the recent BPL loss.

I second the motion above, that if Arsenal finish lower than fourth, then it’s time for Arsene to go.